A Hands-On Approach to Care

As the Chief Nursing Officer, Denise McCann is more than a caregiver to the residents at Sagepoint. Driven by the goal of making every resident as happy and comfortable as possible, she is the leader of a team of dedicated and talented professionals who care for the residents. She provides clinical oversight, training and education and support for the team, the residents and their family members.

The Nursing Team’s approach to working with residents stems from Denise’s own philosophy of care.

“Caring for a person with dementia requires compassion and an in-depth knowledge of the disease,” said Denise. “Understanding how the disease progresses allows a caregiver to apply compassion and creativity in care options. We also recognize that we must provide holistic, individualized care not only for the patient but for the family members as well.”

While rewarding, leading a team in an environment like Sagepoint can be challenging at times. For Denise, leadership comes down to communication and a willingness to make a difference.

“I find that communicating often with residents, family members and staff is vital. Asking staff ‘how they are doing’ makes them feel supported and cared for so they can provide the best care to our residents. By seeing and talking to our residents often, I can generally see what kind of day they are having and help direct staff to assist. I feel that having a relationship is important as it helps me to identify if I see any changes in the patient’s status and adjust the staff activities accordingly,” said Denise.

This hands-on approach doesn’t just help her staff or residents; it also helps the families who entrust Sagepoint with the care of their loved ones. She takes the concerns and feelings of family members very seriously, as she knows their support is vital to the care of her residents.

“Moving a loved one into long-term care is a difficult decision for many family members. While they recognize the time has come for professional care, they have questions about their loved one living in a senior living center,” said Denise. “Recognizing how tough that can be, the management team and I work through their feelings – sometimes doubt, guilt or sadness over their loved one’s changing status. These are all feelings that we can work through together. It takes time. Having the family involved is key to building a relationship of trust. We encourage family and friends to visit and participate in activities. We realize that moving a loved one into a long-term care facility is hard, but we strive to make the transition as easy as possible for patients and family members.”

Denise feels how important her role is and how special Sagepoint is when interacting with residents. “When I come in every day and see the faces of our residents and family members that I am so fortunate to provide care for means so much to me.”

Tee Up With Sagepoint In 2023

Any golfer will tell you that the only thing better than a round of golf is another round of golf! After an incredibly successful third-annual Sagepoint Golf Tournament, we’re teeing it back up and hitting the links again this year. The fourth-annual Sagepoint Golf Tournament is set for Wednesday, September 20, at Swan Point Yacht & Country Club. This is the perfect opportunity to connect with community leaders and make a difference in senior care in Southern Maryland.

The tournament will include a full day of golf with a captain’s choice scramble format, putting contests and exciting raffle opportunities. Returning this year are the very popular raffle for the Pinehurst Course #2 trip (the site of the 2024 US Open Golf Tournament!) and Mulligan Ball Raffle. New this year – Have a PGA pro hit your tee shot! More details to come!

Sagepoint Senior Living Services is a nonprofit organization caring for seniors and persons with disabilities in southern Maryland for nearly 50 years. This year, all proceeds will be put towards improving Sagepoint’s Assisted Living and Memory Care programs.

Our goal is to raise funds to help Sagepoint Senior Living Services grow awareness of dementia and the effects it has on the person, the family and the community as a whole. We plan to achieve this goal by expanding community outreach efforts to develop caregiver support and training programs for those who care for loved ones with dementia and other long-term cognitive illnesses.

Hurry and sign up today to beat the Early Bird Deadline by July 28, 2023! After July 28, the prices will increase. Sponsorship opportunities still remain, but they will go quickly. Email Joyce Riggs at JRiggs@SagepointCare.org for more information.

Come from a Place of Love When Caring for Those with Dementia

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The newly released 2023 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures Special Report by the Alzheimer’s Association highlights the disease’s troubling projected growth. Nationally, there are more than six million Americans living with Alzheimer’s Dementia. That number is on pace to more than double to 13 million by the year 2050. Unfortunately, things do not appear any better from a local level. The number of Marylanders with the disease is on pace to grow by nearly 20% from 2020 to 2025. Next door in Delaware, that number is 21%. In Virginia, it’s over 26%.

While these trends have tremendous implications for the nation’s healthcare policy, facilities and resources, they also present an unpleasant eventuality for many of us – a future caring for a loved one suffering from dementia.

There are no easy diseases when it comes to having a loved one afflicted with a life-threatening condition. Any debilitating affliction that diminishes the life of someone you care about is a terrible burden. That said, dementia is an incredibly cruel disease that robs us of our loved one’s personality and essence before claiming their body. It turns spouses into strangers, best friends into afterthoughts and children into unwanted visitors. And left in its wake is a person who is scared, frustrated, confused and, in many ways, alone, surrounded by loved ones who share all of those same feelings.

Despite the rollercoaster of emotions you may experience when caring for someone with dementia, it’s important to approach the situation with a calm demeanor, a sound plan and plenty of love. While it may seem prudent and safe to help them as much as possible, let them be somewhat self-sufficient. Treating a loved one as if they’re completely helpless can exacerbate their condition and leave them less connected to their surroundings.

It’s also important to speak to them like their adults, not children. And while it’s helpful to talk at a slightly slower pace and give them more time to respond, always remain respectful, as that will encourage them to engage more. Speaking of a slower pace, it’s also good to walk and act at a slower pace so your loved one doesn’t feel rushed or fall behind.

As you care for a loved one with dementia, you must be realistic and honest about your ability to look after them. While you undoubtedly have their best interests at heart and give them the finest care you possibly can, it may not be enough. And if that happens, you must not feel shame, guilt or any negativity about your attempts to care for them. Dementia is an incredibly difficult disease to treat, which almost always requires the help of professional caregivers. With each case being as unique as the loved one it afflicts, knowing how much or how little care to give is an immense challenge.

That’s why we at Sagepoint Senior Living offer such a wide range of care options for those with Alzheimer’s disease or suffering from dementia. Sometimes people in the early stages of the disease only need a little assistance around the house, like meal preparation or doing a load of laundry. As their condition changes, so can their care. We offer adult day services, assisted living, memory care and everything in between – all specifically tailored to the specific needs of your loved one.

With the growing number of people being diagnosed with dementia by the year, the likelihood that you will care for a loved one with this horrible disease is also growing. Please, follow the advice above. Stay patient and loving with them; after all, if this journey is frustrating, scary and confusing for you, imagine what it must be like for them.

Be strong for them. Remember them as they were, and love them as such. It may not save them from Alzheimer’s, but it may make their time with you more special and rewarding.

Assisted Living Manager, Yolanda Medley, Keeps Our Residents Active & Having Fun

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Study after study on seniors consistently reinforce that activity, engagement and interacting with others are good for the mind, body and soul of older individuals. As part of our commitment to providing high-quality care and creating an environment that enhances health and wellness for our residents, we strive to keep them as active and engaged as possible.

How do you keep seniors engaged and active when many of them face physical shortcomings or don’t feel like participating? That responsibility falls on our very own Yolanda Medley, Sagepoint’s Assisted Living and Memory Care Manager.

“I interview residents to learn what they want to do, what hobbies they had and what they would like to try. Engagement is really important, so I want to make sure we’re doing things that interest the residents,” said Yolanda when discussing how to connect with and motivate residents to participate in activities.

This work, while challenging at times, is incredibly rewarding to Yolanda, whose connection to providing care goes way back.

“When I was 13, my grandpa was diagnosed with cancer, and I helped my family care for him. Through that experience I became interested in being a caregiver. When I was starting my career, that seemed like a natural direction to go, so I was a caretaker for years before going to college to earn my degree in health care administration,” said Yolanda.

To help keep our residents interested and engaged in our activities, Yolanda is always ready to go the extra mile. She invites special guests, speakers and experts into the group activity events to make them more fun and unique for the residents. To ensure a variety of activities and an equal opportunity for those with disabilities to participate, she is always coming up with new ideas to keep things fun and fresh for residents.

“We recently had a Sip and Paint event that was a lot of fun. We gave the residents cranberry juice in fancy wine glasses, brought in easels for everyone to create their piece and even served hors d’oeuvres. Everyone really had a great time,” said Yolanda.

With the warmer months coming up, she’s looking forward to planning some outdoor activities. But no matter where the activities take place, she knows how important they are to the residents and their families.

“When I see a resident that didn’t want to participate and then they get into it and have fun, that is very rewarding. It also makes me feel good, and it’s a warm feeling when the residents tell their families about the activities.”

Supporting Sagepoint is the Greatest Gift You Can Give to Our Residents and Their Families

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We all have special moments that live in our hearts. The first time meeting your best friend. Saying “I do.” Watching your granddaughter receive her diploma. We remember these moments because they bring us so much joy, help us stay forever young and keep us connected to loved ones passed.

These moments are magical, and they’re worth more than gold. But for too many in our community, these moments are slipping away. There are currently 13.5 million people living with dementia in the U.S. In Maryland, the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease is expected to increase by nearly 20% in the coming years.

That’s why Sagepoint Senior Living Service’s mission of growing awareness of dementia and the effects it has on the person, the family and the community as a whole is so important.

As a 501(c)(3) organization, we rely in large part on funding from government programs. Funding for these programs is shrinking, and we desperately need to make up the difference and then some.

By establishing recurring donations, you will support our work of expanding vital community outreach efforts to develop caregiver support and training programs for those who care for loved ones with dementia and other long-term cognitive illnesses.

There are many wonderful ways to contribute to Sagepoint, and we are grateful for each one. Some other options that you can consider:

Monetary Donations (Recurring or One-Time)

Online, check, cash, IRA-qualified charitable distribution, donor-advised fund grant, workplace payroll deduction

Planned Giving

Bequeath from will or trust, pledges, charitable beneficiary designation, endowment-style donor-advised fund grant, charitable remainder trust, charitable gift annuity

Lifetime Giving

Securities including stocks and bonds, real estate and other assets, volunteering

Fundraising Campaigns

Sagepoint’s Golf Tournament, End-of-Year Campaign and other future fundraising opportunities.

Our team is so thankful for all of our residents and the family members who entrust us with their care. Each one gets our full attention and our best efforts to ensure their health and safety each day.

Please consider supporting Sagepoint, our residents and their families today. Thank you.

Sage Advice: Stop the Scam

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Every Year, Scammers Steal Hundreds of Millions from Seniors. Here Are Some Ways to Stop the Scam.

The senior population is a vulnerable group that is often targeted by scammers. In fact, in 2021, there were 92,371 senior victims of fraud, resulting in $1.7 billion in losses*, with likely more stolen in unreported incidents. As people age, they may become more trusting and less skeptical, making them more susceptible to fraud. Additionally, many senior individuals may not be as tech-savvy as younger generations, making them easier targets for online scams.

One of the most important ways of preventing seniors from being scammed is to encourage them to be cautious with their personal information. This can include things like their social security number, bank account information and other sensitive details. Scammers often try to obtain this information from seniors in order to steal their identity or money, so it’s important to stress the importance of keeping this information private.

It’s also a good idea to encourage seniors to seek help if they feel unsure about something. This can include asking a family member or friend for their opinion or even contacting local law enforcement for guidance. Many police departments have programs in place to help elderly individuals who may be vulnerable to scams, so it’s worth exploring these options.

It’s critically important to educate seniors about the types of scams that are out there. There are a variety of different schemes that scammers may try, and by educating seniors about these scams, you can help them recognize when something seems off and avoid falling victim to the scam.

Here are some of the most common scams that target seniors:

Government Impersonation Scams-Scammers call unsuspecting older adults and pretend to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Social Security Administration, or Medicare. They may say the victim has unpaid taxes and threaten arrest or deportation if they don’t pay up immediately.
Phone Scams-Criminals will call seniors and pretend to be a legitimate company or organization, asking for personal information or money.
Email Scams-Scammers will send emails to elderly individuals posing as a trustworthy source, such as a bank or government agency, asking for personal information or money.
Investment Scams-Seniors are targeted with promises of high returns on investments, only to have their money stolen from them.
Sweepstakes and Lottery Scams-Scammers will tell elderly individuals they have won a prize in a sweepstakes or lottery, but in order to claim it, they need to pay a fee or provide personal information.
Grandparent Scams-Criminals will call seniors and pretend to be their grandchild, claiming to be in trouble and in need of money.

By educating seniors, encouraging caution with personal information and seeking help when needed, you can help protect our most vulnerable community members from the harm caused by scammers.

*Waterman, July 27, 2022, The Top 5 Financial Scams Targeting Older Adults, ncoa.org

Now’s the Time to Walk In Their Shoes

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More than six million people in the United States are affected by dementia and this number is growing quickly. With this notable rise, Sagepoint Senior Living Services has been working hard to help spread awareness of the needs and challenges of people with dementia and other cognitive diseases. One of the ways Sagepoint does this is by hosting a “Walk In Their Shoes” event that walked board members and others in the community through a small glimpse of the challenges of dementia.

This was accomplished by our team explaining how our memory care service offers a nurturing, home-like environment that sets a new standard of care for people with memory loss. We went on to further describe how our team listens, watches and learns to tailor individual programs for each resident and deliver our professional care and services with a personal touch.

“Sagepoint has hosted the dementia experience for other community organizations like the Rotary Club of La Plata and Leadership Southern Maryland. “We feel it is important to educate caregivers and family members on dementia and other cognitive issues.” says Denise McCann, Sagepoint’s Chief Nursing Officer. “Empowering them with knowledge and resources gives the extended caregivers tools to navigate care.”

While we work towards accomplishing this mission of spreading dementia awareness, you can help us by donating to our “Remember These Moments” campaign. With your donation, you are helping those affected by dementia, and members of our community have access to resources needed to care for their loved one. We could not provide care and educate the community without your help, so please consider donating today.

Remember These Moments

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We all have special moments that live in our hearts. The first time meeting your best friend. Saying I do. Watching your granddaughter receive her diploma. We remember these moments because they bring us so much joy, help us stay forever young and keep us connected to loved ones passed.

These moments are magical, and they’re worth more than gold. But for too many in our community, these moments are slipping away. There are currently 13.5 million people living with dementia in the U.S. In Maryland, the number of people with Alzheimer’s is expected to increase by nearly 20% in the coming years.

As 2022 comes to an end, we are asking you to please donate and support our year-end fundraising campaign, “Remember These Moments.” The focus of this campaign is to raise funds to help grow awareness of dementia and Alzheimer’s and the effects it has on the person, the family and the community as a whole. However, we believe it to also be important to know who you’ll be directly supporting with your donation and how much it means.

Valerie Neal and Annette Miles are sisters who wanted their mother to stay at home as long as she could but knew they needed professional care to help with her dementia. Having a previous connection to Sagepoint due to one of their sisters being a longtime employee, Valerie and Annette trusted Sagepoint to take care of her mother and found the staff treated her with respect and “were very personable with great people skills”. The sisters also noted how much calmer she has been since being a part of our memory care residence and praised our organization as being outstanding. This is just one of many stories that demonstrate Sagepoint’s commitment to helping those who need us in a caring and compassionate way.

By donating to this campaign, you’ll be helping people like Valerie and Annette’s mother receive the care she deserves as well as numerous others in our community. We truly couldn’t do this without you so please consider donating to “Remember These Moments” today.

Tax-Free Charitable Giving From An IRA

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Seniors age 70 ½ or older can make tax-free charitable donation from IRAs that count toward satisfying required minimum distribution and reduce taxable income.

What is a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)?

A QCD is a tax-free charitable distribution of funds directly from the IRA trustee (custodian) of an eligible IRA account payable to a qualified charitable organization that can receive a tax-deductible contribution. A tax-free QCD is defined in IRS Publication 17 – Your Federal Income Tax for Individuals on page 126.

Normal distribution from an IRA of deductible contributions and earning is included in income and taxed as ordinary income. The tax-free QCD removes the distribution from taxable income. QCDs are recorded on Form 1040, U.S. Individual Tax Return 2018 – the sum total QCD distribution is included on line 4 a – IRA distribution, and the abbreviation ‘QCD’ is written on line 4 b – taxable amount.

Who is Eligible to Make a tax-free QCD?

IRA account owners and beneficiaries age 70 ½ or older on the date the tax-free QCD is made to one or more qualified charitable organizations.
Taxpayers who now claim the standard deduction can still make tax-free QCDs.

What type of IRA accounts are eligible for a QCD?

Traditional IRA, Rollover IRA, Inherited IRA accounts and non-active SEP and Simple IRA accounts are eligible for a tax free QCD. Active SEP or Simple IRA account currently receiving employee or employer contributions is not eligible.

Roth IRA accounts are eligible but a tax-free QCD will not lower income tax because distributions from Roth IRAs are already tax-free and not included in income.

What type of retirement savings accounts are ineligible for a QCD?

Employer-sponsored retirement plans, such as 401(k)s, 403(b)s and 457(b)s are not eligible for tax-free QCD. A normal or tax-free QCD distribution to satisfy the IRA RMD requirement in a given tax year cannot count toward satisfying the RMD requirement for employer-sponsored requirement plans.

However, an employer-sponsored plan account owner may consider a direct transfer rollover to an IRA Rollover account that would then be eligible for tax-free QCDs. RMD calculations for tax-deferred IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans for the current tax year will be based upon the fair market value of the account at the close of business on December 31 of the prior year, factored by your age and life expectancy. Therefore, before implementing a rollover strategy the time and suitability should be taken into consideration.

What is the tax-free QCD distribution limit?

Seniors age 70 ½ or older may make tax-free charitable donations and exclude up to $100,000 from gross income per tax year by making tax-free QCD’s directly from an IRA. There is no carry-over from year to year. Your spouse may also make a tax-free charitable donation and exclude up to $100,000 from gross income per tax year for a combined total of $200,000.

Does a tax-free QCD distribution count towards Requirement Minimum Distribution (RMD)?

Yes. A tax-free QCD may be an appropriate strategy for individuals who are charitable inclined and do not need RMDs for living expenses. A tax-free QCD can potentially reduce income tax liability on RMDs to zero. A tax-free QCD can be counted toward satisfying your RMD requirements for IRA accounts.

Here is an example of a normal IRA distribution of $5,000 at ordinary income tax rates:
22% 24% 32% 35% 37%

	22%	24%	32%	35%	37%
IRA Distribution	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000
Income tax	1,100	1,200	1,600	1,750	1,850
Net Distribution	3,900	3,800	3,400	3,250	3,150

Assume you are in the 24 percent income tax bracket – you make a tax-free QCD of $5,000 to count towards satisfying your RMD requirement, provide an income tax break of $1,200, lower taxable income, and help fulfil your philanthropic goals.

The annual RMD must be calculated by you or your custodian for each IRA account, but the sum RMD may be aggregated and distributed from one or more IRA accounts. Note – RMD for employer sponsored retirement accounts cannot be aggregated and distributed from IRAs.

The first distributions from an IRA are consider to satisfy the annual IRA RMD requirement. If you have already taken a portion of your RMD requirement earlier this year, you may consider a tax-free QCD for the remaining balance of the RMD requirement that needs to be distributed before the year-end deadline. The only exception to the year-end RMD requirement deadline is in the first year an IRA account owner turns age 70 ½.

What charities qualify to receive a tax-free QCD?

As defined by IRS Publication 590-B Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs,) a charity eligible to receive a QCD is a “qualified 501(c)(3) organization (a charitable organization eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.)” Donor advised funds and private foundations are not eligible to receive tax-free QCDs. Upon request a charity can provide you their IRS issued ‘Letter of Determination’ verifying tax-exempt status. Additionally, please find information about a tax-exempt organization’s federal tax filing status on the IRS web site at www.irs.gov.

How to set up direct payment to the charitable organization?

To make a tax-free QCD, there must be direct payment by the IRA trustee (custodian) on behalf of the IRA account owner to the charitable organization. You may call your IRA trustee (custodian) and request a check made payable to a charitable organization and delivered to you so that you may forward to the charity. (IRS Notice 2007-7, Q&A-41). Consider including a ‘Letter of Intent’ with the check to describe your wishes and purpose of the charitable gift. Check with you IRA trustee (custodian) for year-end processing deadlines for issuing checks. As normal, you will need to keep records to include written acknowledge from the charitable organization for your tax-exempt charitable donation.

What are key benefits of lowering taxable income, Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) for seniors?

A tax-free QCD can count towards satisfying your RMD requirement but does not add to your taxable income, AGI. You may benefit from lowering your taxable income to lower Medicare Part B premium and prescription drug premium for high income earners, lower taxable percentage of Social Security benefits, and larger deductions for medical expenses; among other benefits.

Medicare Premium for High Income Beneficiaries – Potential lower AGI to qualify for lower income threshold to lower income related monthly adjustment amounts for Medicare Part B and Prescription Drugs premiums. For more information, please view Social Security Administration publication – Medicare Premiums: Rules for Higher-Income Beneficiaries.

Itemized Deduction for Medical Expense – Potential lower AGI to reduce threshold for claiming unreimbursed medical and dental expenses you paid. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) lowered the AGI threshold for medical expenses from 10 percent to 7.5 percent for 2017 and 2018 for all taxpayers and reverts back to 10 percent in 2019.

Percentage of Social Security Benefits to be Taxed – Potential lower ‘combined income’ to qualify for a lesser portion of your Social Security benefits to be taxed. For more information, please visit Social Security Administration web page – Benefits Planner | Income Taxes and Your Social Security Benefits.

Summary

Tax-free QCDs may be an effective strategy to fulfill your philanthropic goals and make a lasting charitable impact in your community. Before implementing any strategy, please consult your professional tax accountant, estate planning attorney and/or investment adviser.

The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. Any investments and strategies mentioned here may not be suitable for everyone. While every attempt is made to provide accurate information, we cannot guarantee the accuracy and completeness of this content. Christine does not provide legal or tax advice.

Written by Christine Parker, CPF®, president of Parker Financial, LLC and member of Sagepoint Senior Services Foundation Board of Officers and Directors.

Sagepoint’s Respite Services-A Critical Service for Caretakers and Family Members Alike

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Sagepoint’s philosophy is that assisted living is about more than services or a facility. It’s about a true sense of place, of fulfillment, of community and making the patient feel like they are a part of our family.

To ensure we live this philosophy for Assisted Living patients, Sagepoint began offering respite services nearly a decade ago. Respite services are a critical component of a patient’s long-term care. It gives dedicated caregivers or family members a much-needed opportunity to rest and recharge while ensuring the patient receives the highest level of care.

Our respite offerings are flexible and take the form of a wide variety of services, including Home Care, Adult Day Services and Assisted Living.

While under a respite stay, we have a nurse and care staff on hand that are able to assist with the coordination and implementation of all aspects of care. Our devoted team takes great pride in providing quality care while your patient or loved one is under our care.

With the summer quickly approaching and vacations coming up, our respite services are a popular option for families to ensure their loved ones receive the highest level of care possible.

To learn more about Sagepoint’s respite services, please call 301-934-0222 to arrange a personal consultation.